There are various types of car crashes, with all of them having the potential to cause serious injuries. One common type of accident is side-impact collisions.
A side-impact collision involves a vehicle hitting the side of another, often at speed, and potentially causing injuries to the driver and passengers. What are some of the most common causes of side-impact collisions?
Running a red light
Traffic lights are designed to manage the flow of vehicles, particularly in busy locations. They prevent road congestion, bottlenecks and too many vehicles heading in opposite directions at any one time. Unfortunately, there are occasions when drivers run through red lights. They may do this unintentionally or intentionally. In either case, the end result can be a side-impact collision.
Speeding and reckless driving
It’s inevitable that vehicles will have to pull out in front of one another at times. This is managed by speed limits so that vehicles can pull out after judging the distance of an approaching vehicle. However, if an approaching vehicle is driving above the speed limit, it may close the distance far too quickly and hit the side of a car that would have been pulling out safely had the other vehicle been traveling within the speed limit.
Impaired driving
It is no secret that alcohol and other substances do not mix well with driving. Substances can severely impact driving abilities and judgment. An impaired driver is much less likely to be considerate of other road users. The driver may simply be incapable of not running into another vehicle. Side-impact collisions frequently occur due to impairment.
If you’ve been injured in a road traffic collision, you may be able to hold a negligent driver to account. Seek legal guidance to find out more about your options.